Ole Miss prof's seedlings in space experiment

OXFORD — A University of Mississippi scientist’s experiment with seedlings is now unfolding in space.

The Clarion-Ledger reports that the experiment by John Z. Kiss — the graduate school dean and professor of biology at Ole Miss — is aimed at determining whether edible plants might be grown on Mars and the moon.

His seedling samples were aboard a rocket that launched Friday from Cape Canaveral, bound for the International Space Station.

The experiment is part of NASA’s Fundamental Space Biology program. The project also has a strong relevance for improving crops on Earth by improving production and sustainability.